Just the ticket for Taranaki rugby fans

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An "early bird" discount option has been introduced by Taranaki Rugby for its 2013 season memberships, which can also include tickets to the France test in June.

Season ticketholders can save up to $30 on their membership tickets if they buy them before February 13.

Prices for the season memberships, which include all five of Taranaki's home National Provincial Championship matches, as well as the All Blacks match, range from $100 for general admission through to $285 for a covered-stand ticket, if purchased early.

Family deals for two adults and up to three children have also been included and range from $245 through to $975.

"I think it's a good incentive for people to make the investment, especially with the All Blacks game, it's a pretty big carrot for being a season member for 2013," Hitchcock said.

"I think it will get good traction," he said.

Taranaki Rugby has not dropped its season-ticket prices, despite the representative side losing the Ranfurly Shield to Waikato.

Hitchcock defended the decision, saying the union did not put the price up this season when it held the shield.

"From our perspective, we think we've got a great team now, which we have invested in and they play attractive rugby," he said.

"We've made a call around ticket pricing, and we're happy with where it sits."

As well as offering discounts for early purchase, Taranaki Rugby has introduced several incentives to increase the number of season members above the 1482 on its books.

They include gift packs for fans who buy the covered-seating option, while there are also amber-and-black supporters packs available and an option to buy a "Taranaki Proud" package for those supporters outside the province.

Fans wanting to buy tickets for just the All Blacks match will have to wait until late April or early May when they go on sale to the general public.

Club rugby members, coaches and players are likely to be offered an earlier date to purchase tickets for the June 22 test.